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Hebrews 11:32-12:2 (7/4)
Epistle for the Feast of the Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia

A Cloud of Witnesses: Hebrews 11:32-12:2, especially vs. 35: "Others
were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a
better resurrection."

The tragic martyrdom of Tsar Nicholas, his family, and all intimately
related to him was the signal wave of an in-rushing tide of barbarous
secularism that would sweep over Holy Russia in the years after
Ekaterinburg. For a century before the royal murders, wise Russian
souls forecast a flood of materialist humanism, with brutal cynicism,
utilitarian philosophy, and utter disdain for life and the sacred.
Satan's hatred skillfully manipulated, distorted, lied, and deceived,
unleashing a fury of bloodletting appalling to the heart. Pray that the
Russian tragedy serves to warn this generation in Europe and America:
the up-welling of secularism within our culture, societies, and
governments announces, in dread and discordant voices, terrible
consequences for the beautiful, good, humane, consecrated, and
God-fearing. Satan is here. Men chose to murder the Tsar; and, today,
men rush to crush holy foundations. They set the stage for horrors to
follow.

Throughout history, imperfect men have, by God's grace, been able to
discern the voice of God despite their frailties. Barak knew he could
not "...discern the day when the Angel of the Lord will help me" (Jdgs
4:8), but risked following the Prophetess, Deborah, to defeat Sisera's
iron chariots. Samson and David loved the embrace of women, yet
"...through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions..." (Heb. 11:33). Those who trust
God discover grace to quench fire, escape swords, be strong in and
through their weakness, and put "...to flight the armies of the aliens"
(vs. 34), so that women receive "...their dead raised to life again"
(vs. 35). Descent into a cultural and social maelstrom is not
inevitable. God is the Lord of history. O holy, royal martyrs, pray
for us today.

Although Eastern Europe rolled beneath the atheist tide, still, the God
Who is Truth rules, lives in the hearts and hands of His Saints, and
enables men and women to endure trials "...of mockings and scourgings,
yes, and of chains and imprisonment" (vs. 36). The Priest, Father
Arseny, triumphed over death in the the special camps and ministered
afterwards in exile. In the forests of Romania Elder Cleopa
"...wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth"
(vs. 38), endured prison torture, so that when Communism fell, his
wisdom guided the faithful in the bitterness of reconstruction. "...He
Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1Jn. 4:4). These
and many other Saints "...obtained a good testimony through faith..."
(Heb. 11:39), revealing God's enduring promise: while the tide of evil
rises and falls, always "...the hand of the Lord..." remains with His
People in dark times. Thus, "...with purpose of heart [we too] should
continue with the Lord" (see Acts 11:21-23). For our God has
"...provided something better for us, that they should not be made
perfect apart from us" (Heb. 11:40).

"...we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" (vs. 12:1)! Do
not delay. Put "...aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares...and...run with endurance the race that is set before us" (vs.
1). The constructs and schemes of men do not endure forever, nor do
'good times' last. Remember: our hope is not in things temporal, but in
the eternal Kingdom of Christ our God. His promise is certain. Look
"...unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (vs. 2). God reigns!
Reveal His "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22,23).

May Thy Kingdom come upon us, the Kingdom of all the ages, the Kingdom
of goodness, righteousness, and peace, that we may praise Thee, the
unoriginate and everlasting God.


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